Governor's Rural Challenge

In December 2012, Gov. Bill Haslam challenged the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and the UT Institute of Agriculture to help develop a strategy for ensuring the growth and prosperity of agriculture and forestry over the next decade. He set a goal of making Tennessee the number one in the Southeast in the development of agriculture and forestry and emphasized opportunities to increase farm income and agribusiness investment. The governor asked for "practical, affordable, actionable steps that we can take to propel the industry into the future." The strategic plan was presented to the governor in December 2013.

Governor's Rural Challenge: A 10-Year Strategic Plan, December 2013 [PDF, 4 Mb]

A year after its presentation to the governor, the Executive Committee provides the following report on areas in which implementation has begun or significant progress has been made toward making the plan a reality. The plan will continue to be reviewed and adapted as needed to remain on target with goals and objectives.

Governor's Rural Challenge: 2014 Progress Report [PDF, 2 Mb]

Expectations:

Continue to focus on rural job creation and economic development
Cultivate new agribusiness investments that lead to job creation and farm markets
Increase farm profitability
Develop public/private partnerships

Guiding Principles:

Facilitate and enhance private enterprise and initiative
Motivate private equity and identify innovative business relationships
Instill confidence in entrepreneurship and risk management
Take advantage of strengths and assets
Address supply chain gaps
Seek inclusive, broad-based input
Emphasize cooperation and collaboration

Organization

The strategic planning process will involve opportunities for public input and will utilize a variety of sources and means for gathering information. For quantitative evaluation and analysis, support will be provided by the UT Agri-Industry Modeling and Analysis Group, the UT Center for Profitable Agriculture. The process will also utilize testimony from private sector experts representing industry, logistics and infrastructure, and additional support from institutional partners including academia and USDA. Qualitative insight will be sought from stakeholders and the public through a steering committee, focus groups, surveys and public meetings.

Executive Committee:

Mr. Lacy Upchurch, President, Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation
Dr. Larry Arrington, Chancellor, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
Commissioner Julius Johnson, Tennessee Department of Agriculture

Steering Committee:

To facilitate strategic plan development, a steering committee of industry leaders is providing guidance in identifying key measures of success and making final recommendations. Steering committee members represent a broad range of agricultural and forestry interest including livestock, specialty and row crop production, financing, supply and service, cooperatives, wood products industry and agribusiness.

Members:

Jeff Aiken, Telford
Steve Bennett, Thompson Station
Barry Brandstetter, Memphis
Mike Brundige, Martin
Mark Burnett, Pikeville
Brent Carter, Fayetteville
Tim Chowning, Springfield
Don Collier, Seymour
Amy Delvin, College Grove
Mike Estes, Murfreesboro

Bobby Goode, Nashville
Steve Harrison, Loudon
Johnny Heard, Collinwood
Willis Jepson, Orlinda
Renea Jones-Rogers, Unicoi
Dwight King, Piney Flatts
Bart Krisle, LaVergne
John Lindamood, Tiptonville
Eric Maupin, Dyersburg
Eric Mayberry, Hurricane Mills

Jimmy Moody, Dyersburg
Ben Moore, Dresden
Reyes Rich, Moss
Chelsea Rose, Hickman
Ray Sneed, Covington
Jimmy Tosh, Henry
Catherine Via, Bells
Stephen Worley, Hampshire

For More Information:

Louis E. Buck
Louis.Buck@tn.gov - (615) 837-5557.